4 ms·

Pre-Jet flight wasn't exactly a suicide run. A turboprop plane with dual engines was as safe as a jet, fixed for a number of factors. The larger benefit with j

Pre-Jet flight wasn't exactly a suicide run. A turboprop plane with dual engines was as safe as a jet, fixed for a number of factors. The larger benefit with jets is being able to fly much higher and faster and being able to hit the 30,000-35,000 sweet spot where the air is thinner, the plane is above storms, and jet fuel efficiency for typical planes is pretty good. The larger 'innovation' on the success of jets is the lowered cost per seat. Props at 10k altitude burned a lot of fuel and were slow which hurt their ability to get more fares. Safety didn't hold back the industry. Cost and speed did. edit: applies to non-turbo prop as well

gok 9y ago
Turboprops were developed after jets. But yeah there were other reasons planes got much safer after around the 1950s.
- dfox 9y ago
  In fact, turboprop (and turboshaft which is the same thing, but for applications other than fixed-wing aircraft propulsion) is jet engine designed such that it produces mainly mechanical power instead of thrust. Most commercial airliners use turbofans which are similar in that majority of their thrust does not come from the engine's jet exhaust.
- drzaiusapelord 9y ago
  Turboprops were developed in the 20's https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turboprop#History https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turboprop#History and used in popular prop airliners like the Lockheed Electra: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_L-188_Electra https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_L-188_Electra I'm guessing you're thinking of turbofans.
  - rjsw 9y ago
    The Electra flew after the Comet.
    - drzaiusapelord 9y ago
      and the DC-3 and Boeing 247 and 307 before the Comet. I don't know why you're arguing we had jet airliners before propliners. In general, props greatly predate jetliners for civil aviation.
      - rjsw 9y ago
        The DC-3 wasn't (originally) a turboprop.

gok 9y ago

Turboprops were developed after jets. But yeah there were other reasons planes got much safer after around the 1950s.

dfox 9y ago
In fact, turboprop (and turboshaft which is the same thing, but for applications other than fixed-wing aircraft propulsion) is jet engine designed such that it produces mainly mechanical power instead of thrust. Most commercial airliners use turbofans which are similar in that majority of their thrust does not come from the engine's jet exhaust.
drzaiusapelord 9y ago
Turboprops were developed in the 20's https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turboprop#History https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turboprop#History and used in popular prop airliners like the Lockheed Electra: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_L-188_Electra https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_L-188_Electra I'm guessing you're thinking of turbofans.
- rjsw 9y ago
  The Electra flew after the Comet.
  - drzaiusapelord 9y ago
    and the DC-3 and Boeing 247 and 307 before the Comet. I don't know why you're arguing we had jet airliners before propliners. In general, props greatly predate jetliners for civil aviation.
    - rjsw 9y ago
      The DC-3 wasn't (originally) a turboprop.